Religion - The Union of Confidence and Ignorance

[jambimon]

Its so funny that the credulous repeatedly say to skeptics..."you don't know where the universe and life came from"...like they DO. The scientifically minded crowd has the BALLS to admit when it doesn't know, but unlike the religious, our "not knowing" is our greatest motivation to keep searching. Conversely, their "knowing"(or pretending to know) is plenty enough motivation for them, to not even see the mountain of solid science we have confirmed, repeatedly. who would you trust?

[therockstarpoet]

I love you.

[goblinking169]

good work bro

[TheMistyk1]

your non belief means nothing...Religion is wrong... God is here no matter what any so called "athiest" believes... We will all die...100% guaranteed... and those who are on their death beds will look for answers of whats coming next... Every knee shall bow to the LORD... and nothing any of you athiests can say or do will change that!!! All of u will see what happens when it passes.....then it will be too late..........................­.....

[oldeubank]

Good video.

As Charles Darwin said:

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

[RhapsodyOfHammerfall]

Well said. :)

[ImhotepRamses]

good work....

[ananiasacts]

They wouldn't be proper religious zealots if they weren't tragically overconfident now would they?

Suppose you have a population with individuals spanning a wide range of character and intelligence--from parasite to hero, moron to genius. Now suppose you find a way to attract those who realize they are selfish and wicked, as well as those of lazy intellect to waste a great deal of their time exploring a fantasy. Wouldn't that tend to enhance the collective working intelligence of those left?

[999smart999]

We could debate all day and every day for the rest of our lives and still never know for definite and we would have wasted our lives. So let us look at what we DO know. Firstly we have life and life is precious. Secondly one day we will die! So I have a question for you.What are you going to do with the days you have left

[justanote7]

I agree with you wholeheartedly that the net effect of religion ... or any blind-faith based activity can't be a positive one, unless it' a random accident. Also, I agree that ignorance is and will be forever a problem for mankind. However, I do believe that the "gross" effect of religion through the centuries has been many times worse than its net effect. :-) Thanks for the response, and keep sharing!

[justanote7]

I feel, that as most get older, and/or life becomes more difficult, the "Truth", as you speak of it, becomes less important. You seem currently endowed with youth, health, time, energy and interest in probint the universe of thought. Such is nature's plan!

However, a little fantacy, (faith without fact), can go a long way for a soldier, lying on the hot sands of Iraq and dying in pain. Would you deny him the "fairies and the unicorns", and make him accept the "Truth" in his last moments?

[SkepticalStudent]

Of course not. I would never run up to a dying soldier and hack away at his faith. But I doubt many dying soldiers on the sands of Iraq frequent YouTube. ;) If you've seen the movie Religulous (great movie BTW), Bill Mahar touches on this exact subject, and I agree with him wholeheartedly on it.

"Religion. It's given people hope in a world torn apart by religion." - Jon Stewart

Religion does help some people. I just think its net effect is not positive.

[ritban]

i like your vids, plz look at my vid response and it may give you a new perspective as to why the bible and god arent real

[ZsSuperCumulo]

haha great videos

[Klax0r]

SkepticalStudent, I'm sure you can see that the odds are stacked against us. Where do you get the motivation to keep fighting a losing battle, cause I'm running thin. We're the dimmest lights in a sea of darkness, what can we do?

[Klax0r]

I'm stunned. This video has provided enough logical debate to prove that anybody who believes in God believes in a theory supported by no evidence. And yet, there is always going to be somebody here to defend the stubborn side. The comments left by xtrashed and others truly make me want to blow my brains out. You guys really don't understand logical debate. It's seriously MIND BOGGLING. There is always going to be this kind of unintelligent argument going around.

[xtrashed]

Skepticism pretends it is all about open-mindedness and evidence. Not so. Skepticism is about suspicion and pride and self-will. It is about pretending you are smarter than people who, if you only knew, are actually wiser than you and your sneering questions and foolish word-tricks. The only place we ever see a humble skeptic is in the physical sciences, because scientists are willing to let their conclusions be ruled on by nature. - John wright, former atheist.

[SkepticalStudent]

This is nothing more than a ridiculous accusation. Skepticism is not about pride and self-will. It's about hearing a wild claim and instead of blindly believing it, asking yourself, "what is the evidence for this claim?"

This quote is hilariously bogus, and ironically, you should have been more skeptical in your analysis of it.

[xtrashed]

Not correct at all. The first Vatican Council declares an anathema on anyone who propogates the idea of blind faith. Rather it firmly states that we must believe, as Catholics, that a person can know the existence of God by reason alone.

[xtrashed]

Without faith we cease to exist! Think about it; you speak to a hundred people every day and you have faith in what they say to you (or not). Every spoken word is a contract in faith, every time you accept what someone says to you: "you need to file this form", "if you do that you'll get arrested" etc. Whatever, it's all faith.

[xtrashed]

God speaks to us in this way, through history, in a real, tangible way. We couple our faith with reason, in order to properly discern what is right and of God and what is not, same way as we discern what advice our friends, or people on the internet give us!

[xtrashed]

Our faith is based upon the Bible as well as the 2000 years of historical evidence that what we believe is the same as what the early church believed. To me that makes it much less of a leap of blind faith than an assurance that God knows what He's doing and has made us promises that all Christians have believed and relied upon for that 2,000 years. Not only Biblical, but we have extra-biblical evidence from secondary sources, historical witnesses, archaeological evidence, etc to confirm. Bye.

[SkepticalStudent]

Ah yes, the age old "my faith isn't blind faith!" Sadly, after an hour of talking to anyone who says this, I can easily get them to either 1) Lie; or 2) Admit that they only have blind faith. It's just about as easy as taking candy from a baby, and it never fails.

[xtrashed]

Hmmm, you are very cynical aren't you!? About people.

[jemscott]

get you !!

[bennon05]

well now tell me, how are you different than the Christian? All the Christians I know would say that they fully believe in the deity of Christ but will listen to your argument if you got one. They aren't "immune to change", but they also aren't skeptical but confident until convinced otherwise. I don't doubt that the Christian you describe in this video exists, but stereotyping all as stubborn and ignorant is wrong and paints a false picture that doesn't exist.

[SkepticalStudent]

Every time I argue with a Christian, the first thing I do is ask if there is anything that could possibly convince him that he is wrong.

I have yet to have a single Christian list even one thing.

This is where we differ. I could compile a good-sized list of things that would convince me Christianity was true.

Although Christians may pay lip service to open-mindedness, I have yet to meet any who are. If you can't name one thing that would convince you that you are wrong, you are unreasonable.

[SkepticalStudent]

In fact, most Christians celebrate this fact and deem it praiseworthy. In this backwards line of thinking, faith is actually a good thing. I've had plenty of Christians openly admit that even if it was easy to show that all of the evidence said that Christianity was not true, that they would still believe. Plenty of Christians have told me this. They might hear an argument from me, but they won't listen, and nothing could persuade them to think they are wrong.

We are nothing alike.

[bennon05]

okay, so you are saying that all christians are closed minded and none can list a single argument opposing their faith? that they will hear an argument from you, but not listen.

thats a ridiculous stereotype, and you are judging all Christians because of your experience with a few.

[SkepticalStudent]

Straw man. I never said all Christians are close-minded. I said I have never met a Christian who wasn't. Are there some open-minded Christians? Undoubtedly. Are they rare? I definitely think so. And I would hardly call my experiences "a few." I was a Christian for about 19 years of my life, and since then I've been talking to Christians on a daily basis. The vast majority of my friends are even Christians. If you think that's too small of a sample size, I highly doubt yours is any larger.

[bennon05]

and concerning faith being praiseworthy: what you call faith is really blind faith if they cease to acknowledge opposing arguments. the Christian with true faith would listen to the arguments posted trusting that if their truth is truth, then they wouldn't be dissuaded. i've been to many churches, listened to many sermons, and i've never been encouraged to this "faith" you speak of, but instead have heard it spoken of as ignorant.

[SkepticalStudent]

I have also heard Christians try to say that their faith is not blind faith. After about an hour of talking to me, I can always either get these Christians to either: 1) Lie. 2) Admit that their faith is blind. It's just too easy. You can say your faith isn't blind, but that doesn't change reality.

[bennon05]

I agree that christians should not be closed minded when it comes to scientific findings, but my question is: have you read your bible lately, or listened to a sermon? I think it only fair that if you ask christians to be diligent in their study of science, you should be diligent in the study of Christianity

[SkepticalStudent]

I know the Bible extremely well, but no, I haven't been to church in about a year. I enjoy my sleep on Sundays. But let's just say I know the Bible better than most Christians do, because when I was a Christian, I actually read the book, which is very unlike the majority of Christians.

[bennon05]

my question wasn't if you DID pursue knowledge in Christianity, it was DO you? you are saying that christians should be skeptical concerning all their truth claims and should pursue knowledge that would seek to disprove their truth. my point in posting was to quesiton if you are as skeptical about your beliefs as you desire christians to be about theirs?

[SkepticalStudent]

If you're asking whether or not I am completely certain that Christianity is wrong, then no. I retain enough doubt that if adequate evidence was provided, I could believe it.

But your assertion that I should continually study this bankrupt ideology is absurd. I have studied Christianity enough to know that I no longer need to read the Bible or go to church on Sundays. If intellectual honesty was contingent on the incessant studying of every conflicting truth claim, we couldn't have any beliefs.

[bennon05]

don't preach that confidence is evil when you are going to be so bold as to say that Christianity is bankrupt and that you know enough about it now to discount its claims. you say having "confidence" in a belief is ridiculous and yet you do the same when you proclaim christianity as false and that you no longer need to consider it.

[SkepticalStudent]

I have already stated that if sufficient evidence was presented, I would believe in it. I will consider believing in it when new evidence is provided. But since I've read the Bible, and such dogmatic claims are immune to change, I highly doubt any new evidence will reveal itself.

But how dare you say that I need to spend my entire life studying such a bankrupt philosophy. This idea is hogwash.

[TheMistyk1]

believe what u will... cause it doesnt change anything now does it

[SkepticalStudent]

bennon, leprechauns exist on this planet. Now, if you don't study leprechauns for the rest of your life, you are being ridiculous!

See how that doesn't work?

It is a perfectly acceptable approach to study a philosophy, and if it does not hold any water, to dismiss it. If new evidence comes along, re-evaluate the philosophy. But the idea that any of us should study every conflicting idea all the time is pure madness.

[SkepticalStudent]

What about all of the other religions? I suppose I should be studying them on a daily basis as well? Of course not. There's not enough time in the day. Christianity is a bankrupt philosophy. It obviously is so. If there is new information that I missed, then I will consider it. I am not 100% confident. I reserve enough doubt to change my mind at any time. But there is absolutely no reason to continue to study such a blatantly stupid philosophy on a regular basis other than for kicks and giggles.

[bennon05]

man, you sound really confident. wait, wasn't that what you just bashed in a 4 minute youtube video? ohhh, but thats because you're right and christianity is wrong. thats why its okay to be confident. my bad.

[SkepticalStudent]

Are we bitter now? Re-watch the video. Never did I say that you should doubt everything equally. The entire video I picked on complete confidence -- the kind of confidence that is immune to change -- the kind of dogmatic belief that says, "I'm right; nothing will change my mind." Nowhere did I say, "we should doubt all things equally."

Show me the evidence for Christianity that I missed and I will gladly believe it. If you think I'm contradicting myself, you did not watch the video.

[TheMistyk1]

lol... you are something else....wow.. unbelievable

[MysteryHunter00]

I would think to arrive at any conclusive decision one would need to look into all opposing and equivalent opinions: Darwism, Christianity, atheism, intelligent design, creationism, etc. The danger of not investigating all beliefs, lead to Jim Jones, David Koresh and other leaders of this ilk to control the action of others by demanding complete obedience and compliance to their doctrine.

[MysteryHunter00]

continued: Many people are sheep because they do not extend their knowledge by research, takes to much time and ability to comprehend what they are reading.

[436214]

man this havent got anything to do with TJs video rofl.. ur just trying to take some of his viewers to watch ur videos..

now about ur video: gr8 :)

[SkepticalStudent]

Most video replies have nothing to do with the original video. Responding is just a way for most people to find similar videos.

[BLUEFlSH7]

People question their faith all the time, another bias video.

[SkepticalStudent]

Generally these same people who "question their faith" could not list a single thing that would convince them that they are wrong. If this is true, then it has the exact same effect as complete certainty. So even if a person doubts, if he could never find a single thing that could possibly convince him that he's wrong, then this video is for him.

[waazchalker]

yor video is so lame it's sad. i feel sorry for you. you've obviously been brain washed by liberal media.

[SkepticalStudent]

I'm the one who's been brainwashed. Right.

[waazchalker]

duh! you even said that you've realized that confidence is related to ignorance. you seem a little too confident in believing that god does not exist-- maybe you're thhe ignorant one. when are you going to realize that there is no right answer?! stop trying to disprove religious folk's beliefs... just let them be.

[SkepticalStudent]

I'm not 100% confident I'm right--that's the whole point. And what harm could possibly result from an honest pursuit of knowledge? What are you so afraid of?

I'll stop trying to disprove religious folk's beliefs when they let me be on November 4. Well, we know that's not going to happen, so I'll continue making videos.

[jbz3]

agnostic atheism owns gnostic atheism.

believers seem to think they're at no loss if they're incorrect. They don't realize that their confidence that they've found truth stops them from really checking if they really found truth. They also believe they're right and that there's a higher authority that judges and takes responsibility so they don't have to. They don't see the drawbacks they're creating with their beliefs.

[TheRedneckAtheist]

I'm 99.99999995% confident that goD doesn't exist.

[SkepticalStudent]

As long as you could change your mind if sufficient evidence was presented it to you, that's fine. It's hard to quantify my own level of disbelief, but I'm a fairly strong atheist.

[Xenithan]

Yup yup. If they provided sufficient evidence I would run straight to the nearest church.

However, they don't have it.

That makes me a saaaaaaad panda.

[BespokeGroupUK]

that is the definition of belif mate. I am an occultist, but i dnt have to believe bugger all. So check my vids...

[KillerMillerKills]

Great vid man, keep it up!

[earfetish]

thing is, I'm basically 100% confident that organised religion is incorrect, and you probably are too; like you give people who claim to know anything about God's mind too much credit by calling them 'probably wrong' when we'd both agree that it's infinitesimally likely that they're correct. I have a feeling that a religious person would use this as an argument against you. Always worth playing Devil's Advocate.

[SkepticalStudent]

I'm not 100% confident I'm right. I could think of a large list of things that would convince me that any religion is true. If evidence presented itself, I would be able to change my mind. But yes, I am pretty confident.

[Knowntje]

not bad... and this is just your third video... 45 subscribers... doing well :)

[greycloud24]

great video and a good point. it is nice to see new perspectives of an old debate. 5/5 and favorited.

[philhellenes]

Had it favourited halfway through. You're a good writer. :)

[Gwaithmir]

One has nothing to lose and everything to gain from an honest pursuit of the truth.

[1imax111]

LIFEISGOOD!